Chapter 19 Section 5Global Peacemaker

Path to Peace• President Wilson stood before Congress on January 8, 1918

and presented his Fourteen Points – 14 provisions that assured peace after the War

• Called for Austria-Hungary’s ethnic groups to self-determination – power to make decisions about one’s own future

• The Allies, however began to discard point by point• In January 1919, Wilson headed to a peace conference in Paris• Wilson wasn’t interest in spoils – rewards of war• Sought an community of power after the War• Not Wilson, but the Allies wanted to divide up Germany’s

colonies – Wilson was left with no choice but to accept

Path to Peace (Continued)• At the peace conference, Wilson produced a plan for The League

of Nations – organization in which the nations of the world would join together to ensure security and peace for all its members

• Congress, however, mostly Republican, declined the proposal• In March 1919, the Allies accepted Wilson’s plan, but Wilson

appeared weak without the support of Americans• The other Allies insisted on redrawing Europe (see next slide for

what happened)• 9 new nations were created out of the territory of Austria-

Hungary, Germany, and Russia• The Ottoman Empire was reduced to today’s Turkey while the

British took control of Palestine, Transjordan, and Iraq• France took control of Syria and Lebanon

Peace• Wilson gave into France and Britain’s idea of crippling

Germany• Insisted on Germany paying reparations – payment for

economic injury suffered during the war• By 1921, Germany owed $33 billion to the Allies – they never

forgot this• Allies presented the treaty to Germany on May 7, 1919• What became known as the Versailles Treaty – because it was

signed in Versailles Palace, it was accepted on June 28, 1919

The Germans are on the left, while the Big Four – France, Britain, Italy, and the US are on the right

You’ve got to swallow it whether you like it or not --------->

Reactions at Home• Many senators opposed the treaty because it committed the

US to the League of Nations• In September 1919, Wilson took to the road to raise support

for the League, but 23 days in he suffered a stroke – paralyzing one half of his body

• The Senate voted on the treaty but rejected it three times• On May 20, 1920 Congress voted to disregard the treaty;

Wilson vetoed; Congress overturned it on July 21, 1921 under new republican President Warren G. Harding – he signed it

• Congress ratified separate peace treaties with Germany, Austria, and Hungary that October

Postwar Adjustments• In 1922, the Senate calculated European countries owing the

US $11.5 billion• This thrust the US into unexpected power• Still, the US turned away from international affairs• Returning serviceman faced readjustment to home life